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1977: Gzowski interviews Iggy Pop

The Story

On March 11, 1977 Iggy Pop, a singer synonymous with a new musical movement called punk rock, joins CBC host Peter Gzowski for an interview. Iggy Pop is wearing black dress pants and a beige blazer but he's forgotten his dress shirt. He's also forgotten his manners and Gzowski's name. He picks at his nails, saying they're dirty, rather than answering the host's questions. But when Gzowski asks him what punk is, Iggy Pop's heavily-lined eyes brighten: "It's a term that's based on contempt."

Did You know?

• After the interview Gzowksi said Iggy Pop was putting on an act, because backstage he was "quite a pleasant young guy."

• In her 1976 article, journalist Caroline Coon was one of the first to use the term "punk" to describe Britain's emerging underground rock scene. "Punk rock" was initially coined in 1970 to characterize a group of late-1960s American rock bands. These bands put maximum effort into one or two hit singles, such as Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs with their song Wooly Bully.

• By 1977, "how to be a punk" articles flooded London tabloids.

• In 1978 Coon became band manager for The Clash, one of Britain's first punk rock groups.